Event to raise awareness of kidney disease

Published: Thursday, November 1, 2012 at 01:04 PM.

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Bradley’s condition and medications drain him of energy. He has high blood pressure. Despite his desire to again work alongside his stepfather, Bradley must take it easy, according to doctor’s instructions.

“It drives him crazy that he can’t work. He’s very independent,” Rebecca said.

Though Bradley’s day-to-day activities have limitations, he and his mother are thankful for the improvements.

At his sickest point, Bradley carried an additional 35 pounds of fluid in his body. The extreme excess caused his legs to seep.

Faithful patient

During one of their trips to Chapel Hill, Rebecca told her son that she wanted to be tested to see if her kidney was a match.

Instead he worked alongside his stepdad, learning to be an electrician.

Just a couple days into his working holiday, Green noticed his feet swelling. His mom, Rebecca Rudisill, told Bradley to prop his feet up that evening.

After another day’s work, the swelling worsened – branching up his legs.

A series of doctor visits led to a frightening diagnosis, Bradley had Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, a debilitating kidney disease.

Kidney failure

To confirm the diagnosis, doctors ordered a kidney biopsy, a painful but conclusive procedure.

Bradley had stage three FSGS. His condition didn’t require dialysis, but relied on hefty doses of medication.

Before doctors found the proper mix, Bradley’s body struggled.

Rebecca drove her son to see specialists in Chapel Hill. After one visit, she and her son were driving back home to Cherryville when they got a phone call. A nurse said that tests showed Bradley’s kidneys were failing.

Rebecca whipped the car around, and her son was admitted into the hospital shortly after – a process he became all too familiar with.

Bradley was hospitalized six times in as many months in 2009.

When doctors released him, they ordered the 17 year old to take it easy and take a strict regime of medicine.

At first he took more than 30 pills a day.

Stable condition

Now 21, Bradley remains in stage three of his disease.

If his condition worsens he would be put on dialysis. If his kidneys continued to struggle, the young man would require a transplant.

“He still has kidney disease but he does so well under the care of the doctors at Chapel Hill. It’s kind of a day to day thing,” said Rebecca.

He’s been in remission since December 2009.

He takes about 10 pills a day, and goes for checkups in Chapel Hill every three months.

Bradley’s condition and medications drain him of energy. He has high blood pressure. Despite his desire to again work alongside his stepfather, Bradley must take it easy, according to doctor’s instructions.

“It drives him crazy that he can’t work. He’s very independent,” Rebecca said.

Though Bradley’s day-to-day activities have limitations, he and his mother are thankful for the improvements.

At his sickest point, Bradley carried an additional 35 pounds of fluid in his body. The extreme excess caused his legs to seep.

Faithful patient

During one of their trips to Chapel Hill, Rebecca told her son that she wanted to be tested to see if her kidney was a match.

She looked at her son, and said she wanted to give him a kidney.

He rejected her proposal, telling his mother that he needed her and didn’t want to risk her health.

That inner strength and devotion to their family bond has given Rebecca the courage she’s needed throughout the ordeal, she said, and the family’s faith in God.

Rebecca admits to throwing a little pity party when her son was gravely ill. Even as a Christian, Rebecca said she struggled to understand why God would let her family suffer.

“I try to be very faithful to God, but I felt so alone,” she said. “I didn’t understand why and what I had done so wrong by being punished.”

Bradley gave her the encouragement she needed.

“He said, ‘Mom, God doesn’t make mistakes. I have kidney disease for a reason, but I’m not going to dwell on it,’” Rebecca recounted.

Support group

While researching her son’s disease, Rebecca came across an organization – the Nephcure Foundation.

The national organization aims to bring awareness to FSGS, and to raise funds for research to cure the disease.

Rebecca said she found support through the organization, and by reaching out to other families connected to Nephcure.

She wanted to get involved.

Rebecca has worked with Nephcure to plan a community event for the first time in Charlotte.

The Nephcure walk will kick off Saturday morning at Latta Park, and Team Bradley is ready, Rebecca said.

Rebecca has a positive outlook for her son’s future, though she recognizes the possible obstacles.

Bradley could come out of remission.

But she continues to draw from her son’s inner strength, and work with an organization she hopes will lead the way to a cure.

“He’s just a great kid. He inspires me. He has kept me so grounded,” she said. “It’s been a long, bumpy road. But like he says, ‘Me and you can get through anything, Mom.’”

You can reach reporter Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.